Yanks select Jamie Hoffmann in Rule 5 Draft

Via Joel Sherman, the Yankees will take Dodgers’ outfielder Jamie Hoffmann first overall in the Rule 5 Draft. Hoffmann, 25, hit .291-.390-.466 with 23 doubles, 10 homers, and 15 steals between Double- and Triple-A last year. He also had an uneventful 24 plate appearance cameo with the Dodgers.

The righthanded batter was ranked the Dodgers 22nd best prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2009 season, and their handbook says he can capably play all three outfield spots. Against lefty pitchers last year, Hoffmann was a .308-.432-.542 hitter. I approve.

better than the reported “fact” that they were going to have the natinals select kroenke.

scott

do we expect him to actually stick with the club? if so wont they have to move melk or cabrerra, or def not resign damon?

Stryker

well, last time i checked melk and ‘cabrerra’ are the same guy hahaha. just messing with you though – it’s early.

and they can stash gardner away in AAA and keep whoever they select (baseball america is reporting they’ll take raynor now) on the 25 man. it’d be nice to take a huge upside arm and while there’s a way to do it, it’d make more sense to take a guy (an outfielder, hopefully) that’s fairly MLB ready or needs a bit more seasoning. that way while he’d be no austin jackson upside-wise, there’d at least be a guy that could fill in at the upper levels of the system.

Moshe Mandel

This tells me that either Melky will be playing everyday or there is a trade coming. No way they go with Melky, Gardner, and Hoffman all on the bench.

Rose

Very good point. Put him as the 25th man? Or they can send Gardner down to Triple-A, no? Sign Matsui and pencil this Hoffman guy as the 4th OF? I’m sure there are still a few possibilities…but I don’t think signing a legitimate LF now is one of them (w/o trading Melky perhaps…OR SWISHER as the tabloids love to throw out there).

Steve H

Has anything further come of the Royals interest in Gardner? All that was reported was that the Royals asked about him, never got the Yankees response (though I’m sure he’s available).

I think the odds are good Melky will not be on the Yankees for 2010. He’s getting more costly and my guess is Girardi would rather keep Gardner because of his speed off the bench. Perhaps Hoffman is the replacement for Melky.

sciorsci

Is Melky a good enough hitter for CF? Is Granderson a good enough hitter for LF? If the answer to both those questions is yes, then it’s fine. You’re just rearranging the defensive alignment to strengthen the team by putting Granderson in CF and Melky in LF.

Rose

The righthanded batter was ranked the Dodgers 22nd best prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2009 season.

22nd best? Isn’t that pretty bad? I mean I know for the Yankees it’s not that great…but I’d assume the Dodgers 22nd isn’t exactly the Rays 22nd best.

http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/open-thread-you-have-the-red-sox-19930/ the artist formerly known as (sic)

This is the Rule V draft.

Rose

Yeah but there were quite a few decent arms floating around, no? We are kind of looking for cheap bullpen help.

The more people bring this up, the more it makes me want to add Delgado, just to make Yankee fans uncomfortable and angry, then self-conflicted when Delgado, who they want to hate for his personal political beliefs, hits the ball well and helps the Yankees win a ring.

I love political tension and moments of forced self-reflection.

Steve H

+28

Amy

Am I missing something with Delgado? I know he doesn’t stand during the National Anthem, but isn’t that a passive protest because he’s anti-war? … I dunno, I think that’s legit.

Everyone who doesn’t sleep with (and possibly have sex with) an American Flag every single night is a Commu-Nazi terrorist, and since Delgado is making millions of dollars in America, that uppity darkie should just shut his ungrateful mouth.

Sincerely,
Glenn Beck and his legions of minions

Amy

Ah, thank you. I assumed it was something to that effect.

Also: IETCVM.

Mac

Yes, he is a peace activist. Stated that 9/11 was a tragedy, but so was going to war. This was before he was with the Mets I believe. Because he would stand for the NA and GBA when he was a Met.

I disagree 100% with everything he stands for. If Delgado is a “Peace Activist” then I am dating Shakira. He is a multi-millionaire, who should be thanking GOD for the millions he is making, instead of trashing the country that gave him the opportunity to make an income that would put him in the top 2% of wage earners in America.
There are many people who share his politics, but at least they are devoting their lives to that cause. Charles Barron comes to mind. He is a leader who is devoted to improving the lives of minorities in America, and is unafraid to say what he thinks (I am on the opposite side of Barron, because I think his approach is wrong. But I still respect him, for trying to make a difference). Guys like Delgado, and Hollywood celebrities are the type that make me sick because they hate this country, and its people, but not its money. There is a song titled “The Fighting Side Of Me” By Merle Haggard that sums up my feelings very well.
I would be one very unhappy guy if he ever played for the Yankees.

He is a multi-millionaire, who should be thanking GOD for the millions he is making, instead of trashing the country that gave him the opportunity to make an income that would put him in the top 2% of wage earners in America.

Guys like Delgado, and Hollywood celebrities are the type that make me sick because they hate this country, and its people, but not its money. There is a song titled “The Fighting Side Of Me” By Merle Haggard that sums up my feelings very well.

The joke practically writes itself.

Tubby

Especially since Merle Haggard is now an outspoken peace activist who also makes millions.

In October 2005, Haggard released his album, “Chicago Wind”, to mostly positive reviews. The album contained an anti-Iraq war song titled “America First,” in which he laments the nation’s economy and faltering infrastructure, applauds its soldiers, and sings, “Let’s get out of Iraq, and get back on track.”

You realize that what this country is about, first and foremost, is freedom. Freedom means not only defending the actions and opinions of those you agree with, but the rights of those with whom you don’t. He’s not causing any harm; he’s taken a very passive approach to his protestations. Personally, I’ve always been uncomfortable with the mandatory nature of some of our nation’s traditions, such as the anthem, the pledge, etc. It doesn’t mean I don’t participate in them, because I do believe in what they represent, but only that I’m uncomfortable with the concept of requiring participation in them to prove one’s American-ness.

I think you lean towards Matsui and I do too, but it’s very close. Delgado’s coming off surgery, coming out of the NL East, and is 2 years older than Matsui, and Matsui has rubber bands and papier mache holding his knees together, is 2 years younger, and is coming off a successful Yankees career. Delgago probably has the higher upside, but not by much. I think I fall in the Matsui camp, when comparing those two players.

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

Who gives a shit?

Question: Can he hit home runs?
Answer: Yes. Therefore, I don’t give a shit if he doesn’t stand during the NA or GBA.

Taking Hoffman, a decent righty 4th OF-type, added onto Cashman’s statements that we’re not increasing payroll and “There’s more cheap DH’s available than you can shake a stick at” comments means:

1.) Our 5 man OF will be Swisher, Granderson, Melky, Gardner, and Hoffman. All good defenders, all of them (outside of Swisher) able to play CF, all cost effective.
2.) We’re not signing Damon, or Cameron, or Nick Johnson, but we will add someone from the Matsui/Delgado/Thome/Dye/Bonds/Cust grab bag to be a solid offensive producer from the DH spot to offset some of the slightly diminished offense we’ll probably get playing someone from the Melky/Gardner/Hoffman amalgam every day.

Steve H

Bonds semi-officially retired today. (not that it was an option other than on this site)

if thats true and we dont sign another outfielder (and sign Matsui/Delgado/Thome) does that mean we have money to go after Sheets or Lackey? I think we would still have about 10 million to play with and still stay under our “budget”

SamVa

sheets maybe with an incentive laden contract..
how are you thinking we could get Lackey for 10 mil a year?

nolan

ha…no…I wasnt thinking we could get Lackey on a 10 million dollar contract. But if we can go 10 we can also probably go 15. I would actually prefer Sheets to Lackey at this point.

I agree…but it’s a little silly to label two guys who have combined for less than 50 AB’s as “4A” players

Try telling that to Bo.

Good luck.

MatyRuggz

He sounds like a possible platoon partner with Granderson if things work out. Granted, he hasn’t proved anything against big league pitching, but with his little bit of power, little bit of speed, and little bit of defense, he should make for a solid utility outfielder.

Dan

Bingo! He can “spell” Grandy against tough lefties. He seems like a very cheap caddy option to me. He will be good for about 200 at bats.

OldYanksFan

FWIW, Hoffman’s scouting report lists his speed at 80 of 100. For reference, Curtis Granderson was scouted as 84 of 100. His MiLB career OBP is 70 pts higher then his BA, so he has some plate dicipline. He seems to be a ‘balanced’ ballplayer, but not much pop. Kind of an ‘Ellsbury Light’ guy.

pollo

Great pick.

Diamondbacks took Kroenke.

pollo

Fucking Mariners dipping into our system again!

Stay Away!

Bo

Looks like Gardner will be adding OF depth to the org in Scranton next yr since he has options.

Chris

I believe Melky has one left as well.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph Pawlikowski

Melky is out of options.

JGS

don’t think so. He has played four full seasons

Mac

The Yanks aren’t going to keep him on the team just to keep him. They would have probably DFA’d Bruney anyway.

So if this kid can’t show any sign of life in spring training they will just put him on a flight back to LA.

I’m not shedding a tear over the loss of either Kroenke or Mini-Tex until the end of the season. They have to make it 6 months without being returned before I feel sad.

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

Yessir.

Steve H

Tex getting drafted further reinforces that the Swisher trade was a total beatdown, Cash-style.

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

Yessir Part Two.

themgmt

Melky’s gone in my opinion. Hoffman is a solid choice but I think Raynor offered more speed and previously better SLG, down year must have been a red flag

ColoYank

It just seems like a stretch to me, because you’re talking right now (absent another move) about a Gardner/Hoffmann platoon in LF. Not gonna happen, IMO.

themgmt

Not much of a stretch. For all the talk about Melky having age on his side.. Hoffman is actually 8 days younger, faster, better defender, more power, and will make 2M less. He’s also 6’3. 6’3 > 5’11.

themgmt

I could add that they could always option Gardner to AAA and pay the extra 2M to Melky rather than trade him.

I think they burned Melky’s last option in 2008, no?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph Pawlikowski

You’re kidding with the height thing, right? Yeah. I know you are. No one could be so foolish as to think that a career minor leaguer is better than a guy with four years of major league experience because of his height.

themgmt

Yes, it was a joke.

Sarcasm

http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph Pawlikowski

My bad. My sarcasm detector is broken after a few days in Indy.

ColoYank

HAH! I’ll just bet.

andrew

Hoffman may be 8 days younger, but Melky reached the majors 4 years ago. That counts for something.

jsbrendog

not KANEKOA TEXEIRA!!!!!!!!!!!

scott

i think we all have to remember this is the guy we basically got for brian bruney. i wouldnt expect anybody we got for brian bruney to make the 25 man roster or even the 40 man roster

jsbrendog

this makes no sense. texeira was part of the swisher deal and was selected in the rule V draft by the mariners. what does that have to do with bruney?

Bo

hes talking about the player the yankees selected.

Doug

.235/.316/.309 in 68 ABs in AFL; .184/.245/.265 vs. righties

between his minor league #s last year and this small sample in the AFL, seems to REALLY struggle vs. righties

He was in the Dominican Winter League, not AFL. And beware of 50 at-bat sample size.

MattG

Does Hoffman qualify as my call for a Murton equivalent?

I think so, yes indeed.

Alright, let’s have them ‘role’ one more year with Melky (CWIDT?), add Delgado or Cust (I think I like the idea of Cust more, but all those numbers are trending down), nab Chapman and call it an off-season.

Can we get the memo out to Cashman today, guys?

Rose

Hey! Remember when I asked about acquiring Boof Bonser yesterday? The Red Sox just acquired him lol.

Meh, perhaps. I think Columbia is respected slightly less than Cornell, but it’s close.

whozat

If you’re not from NY, Cornell gets more respect. Most out-of-staters don’t know about the Hotelies.

Rose

Afterall, Stansbury is the Harvard of the West…

JohnC

Guess that pretty much wraps up the Winter Meetings then. Next signing could be Chapman, after they watch him throw next week in Houston.

Chris

The guy I think the Yanks should be considering is Vlad. I have no idea why his name hasn’t been mentioned at all for our DH spot. I love Matsui, but having Vlad behind Arod would be sick. Plus Vlad can still play RF if needs be. He wasn’t offered arbitration. So it doesn’t cost us anything. We basically had Vlad in 04, but we signed Shef instead. So we know he had atleast some interest in playing for the Yanks at one point. Thoughts?

Rose

We basically had Vlad in 04, but we signed Shef instead.

That was in 2004…over 5 years ago. Both Vlad Guerrero and Gary Sheffield are not even close to what they were then.

The guy I think the Yanks should be considering is Vlad. I have no idea why his name hasn’t been mentioned at all for our DH spot. I love Matsui, but having Vlad behind Arod would be sick. Plus Vlad can still play RF if needs be. He wasn’t offered arbitration. So it doesn’t cost us anything. We basically had Vlad in 04, but we signed Shef instead. So we know he had atleast some interest in playing for the Yanks at one point. Thoughts?

I was gonna break this down, line by line, but…

Vlad, 2009: .295/.334/.460 (106+)
Matsui, 2009: .274/.367/.509 (131+)

Let’s just leave it at that.

Vlad the Impaler is dead.

Raf

because Vlad can barely run anymore and his power is almost all but gone. not the same player he was a couple of years ago at all. Delgado/Thome would be a better option.

Bo

They’ll have their pick of power bats when the time comes. Vlad will be on that list.

Chris

So, Jamie Hoffman was on the Dodgers 25 man roster this season. That means that he was DFA’d at some point and exposed to waivers, right? If the Yankees wanted him, why didn’t they just grab him at that time?

He didn’t necessarily have to be on the 25 man, he could of been a september call up. (Unless of course you were saying that he was on the 25 man, and not just assuming so because he had plate some plate appearances. I am too lazy to check either way and rather just let someone correct me.)

Chris

He played in May/June. I can’t find when he was DFA’d, but the fact that he did not play in September suggests that he was probably DFA’d before then.

Tubby

Why DFA’d? Wouldn’t he have just been optioned back to AAA?

Chris

If he’s optioned back to AAA, then he stays on the 40-man roster. To be eligible for the Rule 5 draft, he has to be off the 40-man.

Mike bk

and he could have been dfa’d after the year for the Rule V like we DFA’d shelley after the year.

andrew

Wait, why does that mean he was DFA’ed and exposed to waivers? If he had options left, couldn’t they just have sent him back down to the minors?

sciorsci

Because if he wasn’t DFA’d at some point, he’d still be on the 40-man roster (players with options can move freely on and off the 25-man roster, but the 40-man roster is static), and if he was still on the 40-man, he wouldn’t be eligible for the Rule 5 draft. By definition, since he was drafted in the Rule 5 draft, he must have been taken off the 40-man at some point, which means he was DFA’d/waived at some point last season.

I realize Vlad is coming off an injury plagued year, but the fact is he’s a year younger than matsui. Matsui was coming off an injury year last year and look what he did. If Vlad was our primary DH I think he could put up monsterous #’s for us.

I realize Vlad is coming off an injury plagued year, but the fact is he’s a year younger than matsui.

Farrah Fawcett is a year younger than Victoria Principal. Would you rather go on a date with Farrah Fawcett or Victoria Principal right now?

andrew

Right… but if both of them are old, and both of them are aging/on the decline, then we can assume they will both get slightly worse next year or maintain their abilities, but probably not improve. Vlad will probably not beat his numbers from last year.

mike

i think Dye @ 450 AB’s and not playing the outfield will offer the Yanks flexability at the DH, a RH bat in the lineup, and someone who could play the outfield if needed for a few games – not well, but better than Matsui

Bo

Dye wouldnt be a bad choice to be a right hand power bat and OF.

sciorsci

Vlad’s a year younger as far as we know. That doesn’t mean he’s actually a year younger.

A.D.

and 15 steals between Double- and Triple-A last year

Yeah, but he was caught 11 times…probably shouldn’t be stealing bases.

So is it really that impossible for Vlad to have a comeback season??????

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matsui’s bad ’08 was related to his balky knees. Vlad’s bad ’09 is related to his suddenly absent bat speed. He can’t get around on fastballs anymore. He’s done.

andrew

There’s a good reason we can get him on a better deal than Matsui. He’s done. Did you see him in the ALCS, flailing all over the place at pitches in the dirt. I know he always swung like that, but it used to be effective, it’s not anymore.

Fun Fact: Hoffmann was a 2003 draft pick of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

A.D.

Hoffmann has shown the classic struggle & adjustment at every level, so hopefully that continues in the bigs.

Chris

What are u talking about? The reason for Vlad’s bad 09 was because he had a bunch of different injuries that lead to his subpar 09. In the playoffs when he was finally back healthy he hit .378 average with three doubles, a homer and seven RBIs in nine games

A) Use the reply button.
B) The Angels are interested in Matsui but far less interested in Vlad. That should tell you something.

He’s done. Kaput. Stick a fork in him. He’s a year younger than Matsui, but he’s aged WORSE.

Matsui >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Guerrero

Chris

I disagree. A healthy Vlad is still dangerous. Just like a Healthy Matsui was this year. I can garuantee you a lot of the same things that were said about Matsui last year are the same things being said about Vlad now. I’m fine if we signed Matsui or Damon again. I just believe Vlad deserves consideration. Especially over some of the other names like Delgado & Thome that have been thrown out their in these comments. Neither of them can play a position anymore at all and Delgado is coming off a very serious injury.

Wait, I forgot something- we can sign Mark DeRosa to DH against LHP and be a super-sub the rest of the time. What would it take to land DeJesus? Would Gardner, Gaudin, and a prospect (Miranda, Romulo, Russo, or Nunez?)

I’m going to be sad when IPK and Kroenke combine to no-hit the Padres this summer.

Bo

You mean the Padres Triple A team right?

Because no one dominates the minor leagues quite like IPK.

mustang

LMAO

mustang

Remember IPK pitched better then Prior, Randy Johnson and Zito in college or they were his college roommates or something.

Mike bk

what’s the difference other than Adrian Gonzo b/w AAA and the pads MLB club?

Pettitte’s Stare

What is the chance that we move Hoffman in another trade? Do we really need a 5th OF on the roster?

Pettitte’s Stare

What is the chance that we move Hoffman in another trade? Do we really need a 5th OF on the roster?

JMK THE OVERSHARE’s Milton Bradley Fat Park Factor

So…were Archimedes, Pino or Rodriguez drafted?

http://nyyu.blogspot.com Mike

WFAN says that the NATIONALS selected Hoffman then sent him to the Yanks as the PTBML in the Bruney deal.

sciorsci

Right. That was the deal the whole time. Teams can’t formally trade draft picks in baseball, even in the Rule 5 draft. But they can agree to select a player on behalf of another team and then trade him as a PTBNL (in the Rule 5 draft; it wouldn’t work that way in the amateur selection draft).

Dwnflfan

I’m not seeing any reason to think Hoffman can make the Yankee roster. In roughly 250 PA’s he put up a .815 OPS in Albuquerque which inflates offense by about 15%

On the road, (AAA & AA) last year Hoffman had these triple slash #’s
.251 .347 .380 for an OPS of .727
That sound like a valuable bench player to you?

His AAA stats last year translate to a MLE of:
.217 .282 .339 That make Garbrerra look like Tommy Heinrich.

His AA #’s translate out to about a .700 OPS MLE but thats for 106 AB’s.

The guy hammered lefties last year but that was over 120 AB’s and he’d never shown the ability to do that previously.

Is this really the best they could do?

sciorsci

Thoughts on these potential lineups (with the roster as presently constructed):